Automatically controlled washing machine with a lye rolling system

ABSTRACT

Detergent solution is discharged by means of a pump ( 10 ) at the bottom of a washing handling space ( 1 ) and is fed back to the handling space ( 1 ) via a pipeline ( 9 ) above the washing ( 3 ) located in the handling space. The washing machine is also connected to a fresh-water supply line ( 5 ) which can be opened and closed by a valve ( 7 ) which is controllable by a sensor device ( 12 ) suitable for establishing a volumetric flow present in the pumping direction of the pump ( 10 ). 
     It is possible to dispense with a separate sensor element for controlling the fresh-water supply by a body ( 13 ) which can be actuated by the volumetric flow prevailing in the pipeline ( 9 ) being arranged along the pipeline ( 9 ) and, depending on the presence or absence of volumetric flow, protruding into or releasing the measuring section ( 18 ) of a turbidity sensor ( 17 ). Finally, the valve ( 7 ) is controlled by the turbidity sensor ( 17 ) so as to assume its opening or closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an automatically controlled washing machinewith a detergent-solution circulating system in which detergent solutionis discharged by means of a pump at the bottom of a washing handlingspace and is fed back to the handling space via a pipeline above thewashing located in the handling space, which washing machine is alsoconnected to a fresh-water supply line which can be opened and closed bya valve which is controllable by a sensor device suitable forestablishing a volumetric flow present in the pumping direction of thepump.

Such a washing machine is known from DE-A-43 32 225. In the case of thiswashing machine, a detergent-solution circulating system is connected atthe bottom of the tub in order for washing-detergent or rinsing solutionto be constantly flowing through the washing located in the washingdrum. This circulating system comprises a pipeline, along which adetergent-solution pump and a sensor device are arranged. The presenceof a flow in the pipeline is sensed by the sensor device. Depending onthe presence or absence of a flow in the pipeline, the sensor deviceemits a corresponding signal to the valve arranged along the fresh-watersupply line, whereby the fresh-water supply is either introduced or shutoff. In this way, the washing machine is constantly supplied only withthe amount of water absolutely necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of developing a washing machine ofthe type described at the beginning in such a way that the control ofthe fresh-water supply can take place as far as possible with sensorelements that are already on the washing machine in any case.

The set object is achieved according to the invention by a body whichcan be actuated by the volumetric flow prevailing in the pipeline beingarranged along the pipeline and, depending on the presence or absence ofvolumetric flow, protruding into or releasing the measuring section of aturbidity sensor, by which turbidity sensor the valve is controlled soas to assume its opening or closed position. Consequently, just a simplemechanical part need be installed in the pipeline, whereas the turbiditysensor present in any case for measuring the turbidity of the rinsingwater is used for the more complex sensing task.

According to a further refinement of the invention, the body is designedas a float and is arranged in a vertically extending region of thepipeline. In the case of such an arrangement, the float assumes itsposition of rest of its own accord, on account of gravity. consequently,no separate means are required for returning the float to its positionof rest.

As a result of the fact that the float is design ed in the manner of avalve disk provided with a stem, the stem protruding into the measuringsection of the turbidity sensor when the float is in the position ofrest and the valve disk bearing against a valve seat, the pipeline iscompletely shut off when the float is in the position of rest.Consequently, the occurrence of even a very small volumetric flowalready leads to the float being adjusted. This makes the device verysensitive.

A separate valve seat in the pipeline can be avoided by thecircumferential rim of the valve disk having a conically flared profileand the pipeline being in the same way of a conical design, at least inthe region of the position of rest of the float.

In the pipeline there is expediently also provided a stop which limitsthe adjusting path of the float and the position of which is chosen suchthat when the float is bearing against the stop the stem completelyreleases the measuring section of the turbidity sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained below on the basis of an exemplary embodimentrepresented in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an automatically controlled washing machine in a schematicrepresentation,

FIG. 2 shows the design of a sensor device using a turbidity sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A washing drum 2 is rotatably mounted in the tub 1 of the washingmachine. Lying in said washing drum are items of washing 3, which arelifted and dropped again by paddles 4 during rotation of the drum 2. Asa result, a constant rearrangement of the layers of washing items takesplace, as a result of which they are constantly flowed through in newdirections by washing-detergent or rinsing solution. Thewashing-detergent or rinsing solution is introduced into the tub 1 via afresh-water supply line 5 and a detergent container 6. A valve 7 in thefresh-water supply line 5 serve s for controlling the fresh-watersupply. For this purpose, the valve 7 is controlled by a control device8 of the washing machine.

For washing-detergent or rinsing solution to be constantly flowingthrough the washing, a detergent-solution circulating system isconnected at the bottom of the tub 1. This system comprises a pipeline9, along which a detergent solution pump 10, a heating device 11 and asensor device 12 are arranged.

According to the design variant shown in FIG. 2, the sensor device 12has a float 13 arranged in the pipeline 9. The float 13 is designed likea valve disk 15 provided with a stem 14. The circumferential rim 16 ofthe valve disk 15 is of a conically flared design. The pipeline 9 is inthe same way of a conically flared design, at least in the regioncorresponding to the position of rest of the float 13. Consequently, inthe position of rest, i.e. where there is no volumetric flow, in thepipeline 9, the valve disk 15 can come to bear with its circumferentialrim 16 snugly against the inside wall of the pipeline 9.

In the pipeline 9 there is expediently also provided a stop 19, which isschematically shown in FIG. 2. The stop 19 limits the adjusting path ofthe float 13. The position of the stop 19 is chosen such that, when thefloat 13 bears against the stop 19, the stem 14 completely releases themeasuring section of the turbidity sensor 17.

Fitted to the outer circumference of the pipeline 9 is a turbiditysensor 17. At least in this region, the pipeline 9 consists oftranslucent material, so that a light beam 18 transmitted by thetransmitting part of the turbidity sensor 17 and representing themeasuring section of the turbidity sensor 17 can pass through thepipeline 9 to the receiving part of the turbidity sensor 17.

The diameter of the valve disk 15 is made to match the inside diameterof the pipeline 9 in such a way that the valve disk 15 comes to bearagainst the inside wall of the pipeline 9 with respect to the positionof the measuring section of the turbidity sensor 17 such that its stem14 still protrudes into the light beam 18 of the turbidity sensor 17 andinterrupts the latter. As a result, a corresponding control signal canbe emitted by the turbidity sensor 17 to the control device 8, by whichthe valve 7 is made to open by the control device 8. Consequently,freshwater is supplied until the pump 10 can pump water into thepipeline 9.

The volumetric flow ensuing in the pipeline 9 lifts the valve disk 15and, as a result, draws the stem 14 out of the measuring section, i.e.out of the light beam 18. The light beam 18 then impinges on thereceiving part of the turbidity sensor 17 and triggers a control signal,by which the valve 7 is shut off again. Consequently, the washingmachine is supplied only with the amount of water absolutely necessaryfor a washing cycle.

The turbidity sensor 17 present in any case in modern washing machinesis thus used not only for measuring turbidity during the rinsing cycleof the washing machine but also for controlling the fresh-water supply.It is consequently possible to dispense with a separate sensor elementfor controlling the fresh-water supply.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatically controlled washing machine,comprising: a laundry handling chamber having a bottom region and anupper region disposed above said bottom region; a pipeline for feeding adetergent solution into said upper region of said laundry handlingchamber; a detergent-solution circulating system having a pump connectedto said pipeline for generating a volumetric flow through said pipeline;said pump having a pumping direction for pumping the detergent solutionfrom said bottom region of said laundry handling chamber and for feedingthe detergent solution to said upper region of said laundry handlingchamber via said pipeline; a fresh water supply line; a valve connectedto said fresh water supply line and having an open position and a closedposition; a sensor device connected to said pipeline for sensing thevolumetric flow through said pipeline; said sensor device having aturbidity sensor with a measuring section; said sensor device having abody actuated by the volumetric flow prevailing in said pipeline; saidbody protruding into the measuring section and clearing the measuringsection depending on one of a presence and an absence the volumetricflow; and said turbidity sensor controlling said valve to be in one ofthe open position and the closed position.
 2. The washing machineaccording to claim 1, wherein: said body is a floating body; saidpipeline has a vertically extending section; and said floating body isprovided in said vertically extending section of said pipeline.
 3. Thewashing machine according to claim 2, wherein: said floating body has avalve disk and a stem connected to said valve disk; a valve seat isprovided for cooperating with said valve disk; said stem protrudes intothe measuring section of said turbidity sensor and said valve disk bearsagainst said valve seat when said floating body is in a restingposition.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein: saidfloating body has a floating path; a stop device is disposed in saidpipeline for limiting the floating path of said the floating body; andsaid stem completely clears the measuring section when said floatingbody bears against said stop device.
 5. The washing machine according toclaim 2, wherein: said floating body has a valve disk and a stemconnected to said valve disk; said valve disk has a circumferential rimwith a conically flared profile; said pipeline has a conical region forcooperating with said circumferential rim; and said stem protrudes intothe measuring section of said turbidity sensor and said circumferentialrim bears against said conical region of said pipeline when saidfloating body is in a resting position.
 6. The washing machine accordingto claim 5, wherein: said floating body has a floating path; a stopdevice is disposed in said pipeline for limiting the floating path ofsaid the floating body; and said stem completely clears the measuringsection when said floating body bears against said stop device.